Letter 9013: VARIAE, BOOK 9, LETTER 13

VARIAE, BOOK 9, LETTER 13 From: King Athalaric, writing through Cassiodorus To: Wilia, Distinguished Count of the Patrimonium Date: ~526-534 AD Context: An order to increase the pay of the domestici (household guards) who escort provincial counts, arguing that underpaid officials inevitably resort to corruption. [1] From the report of Your Magnitude, we have learned that the domestici who serve the appointed counts have been burdening the provincials with numerous exactions — a problem we believe has been nourished by the inadequacy of their pay, since a man can claim a kind of excuse for wrongdoing when his necessities are not provided for. [2] Therefore, granting general benefit through a specific remedy, we order by this present authority that in addition to the 200 solidi and ten rations they have previously received, fifty solidi annually be added to their compensation from the fifth indiction onward, to be charged to your accounts. When the mother of crimes — necessity — is removed, the desire to offend is taken away as well. [3] But if anyone proves to be a wicked violator of our commands, and is in any way implicated in losses to the provincials or in abuse of authority, let him lose his entire compensation. The man who obeys the law deserves to receive his rewards; it is for this reason that he receives from us, so that he need not take from others. Our giving is an act of honor. Royal gifts, however modest, elevate their recipients, because the man who is supported by the ruler's generosity is believed to have also earned the grace of merit.

XIII. VVILIAE V. I. COMITI PATRIMONII ATHALARICUS REX. [1] Magnitudinis tuae suggestione comperimus de domesticorum excessibus, qui destinatis comitibus obsequuntur, provinciales damnis plurimis ingravatos: quod credimus emolumentorum parvitate nutritum, quia sub quadam excusatione peccare creditur, cui necessaria non praebentur. [2] Et ideo speciali beneficio generalia compendia largientes magnitudini tuae praesenti auctoritate praecipimus, ut supra ducentos solidos et decem annonas, quas hactenus acceperunt, a quinta feliciter indictione quinquaginta eis solidos annuos faciatis incunctanter adiungi, qui vestris rationibus debeant imputari, ut, dum mater criminum necessitas tollitur, peccandi ambitus auferatur. [3] Si quis autem iussionum nostrarum inprobus temerator exstiterit, ut aliquo casu in damnis provincialium aut praeiudiciis implicetur, emolumentis careat universis, quia ille dignus est praemia consequi, qui parere cognoscitur aequitati: ideo enim a nobis accipit, ne ab aliis quaerat. nostrum dare nobilitas est: dona regalia quamvis parva sublimant, quia simul et meritorum gratiam reperisse creditur, qui principali munere sublevatur.